By Alex Molina / info@eurohoops.net
The Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), led by its president Elisa Aguilar and national team head coach Chus Mateo, held a working meeting in New York with NBA leadership, including Commissioner Adam Silver and Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum. The discussions focused on exploring potential collaborations between the two organizations in the short and medium term.
As part of their visit to the United States, Aguilar and Mateo began their agenda with meetings involving executives from both the NBA and the WNBA, headed by Adam Silver. The encounter proved highly constructive, laying the groundwork for future joint initiatives between the institutions.
During the meeting, Elisa Aguilar presented Adam Silver and Mark Tatum with two Spanish Men’s National Team jerseys bearing their names, along with a historic poster commemorating the first visit of an NBA team to Spain. That landmark tour took place in May 1956, when the Syracuse Nationals played games in Barcelona and Madrid.
Reflecting on the meeting, Aguilar said: “It has been a very productive and positive morning. First of all, I would like to thank Adam Silver and Mark Tatum for their openness and approachability. We discussed possible projects in the short, medium, and long term, not only in areas of player development and professional growth, but also in communication. The key takeaway is that the NBA has an in-depth understanding of Spanish basketball and the work we do at the Spanish Basketball Federation. They are well aware of the great potential we have. We are continuously growing, and any future projects will help ensure that we remain among the world’s leading basketball nations.”
The trip will continue with meetings involving Spanish players currently in the NBA, including Hugo González and Santi Aldama, as well as several Spanish athletes competing in the NCAA.